Introducing new chickes to the older ones

[IamRainey]

I had great success this year raising my 4wo chicks in a kennel inside the run with my 1 and 2yo hens as soon as they no longer needed supplemental heating. After 3 weeks of this look-but-no-touch arrangement I opened the door to the kennel and let anyone go in or out. Three weeks after that we took the kennel out and everyone was a flock.

During the juveniles' containment I put the prime snacks like BOSS around the outside of their kennel drawing the hens safely into their proximity where they -- the hens -- didn't feel their food supply was jeopardized. And the juveniles, of course, got the same snacks inside their kennel.

Won't say, now that everyone's in the same general population, that the juveniles don't get chased off the prime snacks but there hasn't been any blood and when I'm working nearby in the garden I don't hear any fuss. Meanwhile, they're growing bigger and stronger so they're getting a good food supply even if it's the leftovers of the BOSS and watermelon.

It's been a highly successful integration. Even our Mean Girl who was very hard to break last integration hasn't gotten her feathers in a twist.

This is the sort of wire kennel we used: An excellent investment!

 

[Medic328]

Cornwall borough, Lebanon county PA. I will add the info,

 

[Medic328]

I had great success this year raising my 4wo chicks in a kennel inside the run with my 1 and 2yo hens as soon as they no longer needed supplemental heating. After 3 weeks of this look-but-no-touch arrangement I opened the door to the kennel and let anyone go in or out. Three weeks after that we took the kennel out and everyone was a flock.

During the juveniles' containment I put the prime snacks like BOSS around the outside of their kennel drawing the hens safely into their proximity where they -- the hens -- didn't feel their food supply was jeopardized. And the juveniles, of course, got the same snacks inside their kennel.

Won't say, now that everyone's in the same general population, that the juveniles don't get chased off the prime snacks but there hasn't been any blood and when I'm working nearby in the garden I don't hear any fuss. Meanwhile, they're growing bigger and stronger so they're getting a good food supply even if it's the leftovers of the BOSS and watermelon.

It's been a highly successful integration. Even our Mean Girl who was very hard to break last integration hasn't gotten her feathers in a twist.

This is the sort of wire kennel we used: View attachment 1901910 An excellent investment!

The pens are about 10 inches apart and I'm going to close that gap removing the fencing from the EE pen and the closing off the ends. so then can get closer to each other without actually exposing them in

 

[Medic328]

Pic 1 is the full view of back swing out doors for ease of cleaning and egg collection.
Pic 2 front of house with hangover to prevent rain or snow to enter plus some shade
Pic 3 right side rear
Pic 4 inside. The nests will be 5 gal buckets cut and rested on 2-3s with a 2x6 in front as a small roost. there will be 6 of these maybe 8.
In the side wall about 1 foot above floor will be a roosting bar.

 

[aart]

For 9 birds you only need 2 maybe 3 nests.
Will roost be above nests?

 

[Ponte]

I got two chicks three weeks ago.
First weeks I had them in a see through cage and placed them where the 6 month old hens could see them.
Second week while watching them I started letting them roam free in my yard near the older hens and intervened when the older ones tried pecking them.
Third week, they are free to go wherever they want. The older ones barely pay attention to them, when they do, the chicks run away from them.
I created a little space out of 2x4 with four inch gaps for inside the aviary so the chicks can go hide if the older ones try to harass them at night.

 

[Medic328]

For 9 birds you only need 2 maybe 3 nests.
Will roost be above nests?

yes but opposite the nests off the opposite wall

 

[Medic328]

For 9 birds you only need 2 maybe 3 nests.
Will roost be above nests?

I'll put in 4 nests on one side of the house and roosts on the other side. Or do the roosts need to be above the nests??

 

[Medic328]

Now, looking at the house, where would be a good idea for placing vents? I was thinking side to side higher up towards the front of the house. This will keep air above them.

 

[aart]

I'll put in 4 nests on one side of the house and roosts on the other side. Or do the roosts need to be above the nests??

No...location of nests is just odd, so I thought maybe you'd planned to put a poop board and roost over nests.
Your layout is rather odd....why are nests in the 'middle'?
Best to have about 12" of roost length for each bird.
Hard to fit 9 birds in a 4x8 coop, you might want to think about reducing your flock numbers for winter.

Now, looking at the house, where would be a good idea for placing vents? I was thinking side to side higher up towards the front of the house. This will keep air above them.

It's going to be hard to keep vents above them in such a 'short' coop, roosts will need to be pretty low. Large roof over hangs can really help here to protect venting.

Here's some tips on heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/
..and a good discussion about ventilation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts.1048597/